James Elbert Briggs was born in Rochester, N.Y., in 1906 the son of Bendsmin Robert and Marion Cypert Briggs. He entered the New York Military Academy in 1920 and, as an honor graduate, in 1924 received a presidential appointment to the U.S. Military Academy. He was "cadet first captain" (regimental commander) his last year at West Point and graduated 31st in a class of 261 in 1928. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of Field Artillery.

Second Lieutenant Briggs' first assignment was to the Sixth Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Hoyle, Md. After spending nine months at Fort Hoyle, he entered Primary Flying School and in 1930, received his pilot's wings upon graduation from the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas. General Briggs is rated a command pilot.

After his transfer to the U.S. Air Corps in 1930, Lieutenant Brings joined the 95th Pursuit Squadron at Rockwell Field near Coronado Calif. He stayed with the 95th through its move in 1931 to March Field, Calif., and until he received orders in 1934 to attend the 10-month course at the Air Corps Technical School, Chanute Field, Ill.

The period from August 1935 to August 1937 was spent in Hawaii with the 18th Composite Group and as commander of the 19th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field on the Island of Oahu. After serving next in several command and staff positions with the 1st Pursuit Group, Selfridge Field, Mich., Captain Brings turned in 1940 to the U.S. Military Academy where he spent the next two years as a member of the faculty in the Department of Mathematics.

In May 1942, the then Colonel Briggs was appointed operations officer of the Eighth Air Force Fighter Command in Europe and in September 1943 became air officer of the European Section of the War Department General Staff.

Colonel Briggs became deputy commander of the North Atlantic Divisions Air Transport Command, in March 1945, and in December of that year went to Air Transport Command headquarters as assistant chief of staff for plans and chief of organizational planning. In April 1946, he became a member of the Central Intelligence Group in Washington, D.C.

Moving to Colorado Springs, Colo., in August 1947, the colonel became chief of staff for the Fifteenth Air Force, and in April 1948 went to Spokane Air Force Base, Wash., to assume command of the 92nd sad 98th Bombardment wings. After promotion to brigadier general in December 1948, he moved to MacDill Air Force Base Fla., in March 1949, and became commander of the 306th and 307th Bombardment wings.

Following the outbreak of the Korean conflict, General Briggs was assigned in August 1950 as deputy commander of the Far East Air Forces Bomber Command, based on Okinawa and later in Japan. In January 1951, he assumed command of the Far East Air Forces Bomber Command, and in July 1951, was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal after completion of his tour as commander.

General Briggs returned to the United States in June 1951 to became deputy commander of the Fifteenth Air Force at March Air Force Base, Calif. He was promoted to the rank of major general in October 1951 while at March Air Force Base and one month later was reassigned to Washington, D.C., as assistant deputy chief of staff for Development, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force. In May 1954, he was named assistant deputy chief of staff for operations and was given the additional duty of U.S. Air Force Member of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense, Canada-United States. During this period, General Briggs also was Headquarters, U.S. Air Force project officer for the Distant Early Warning Line in Canada and for the U.S. Air Force Base Construction and Activation Program in Spain.

General Briggs became the second superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy Aug. 1, 1956, when he succeeded Lieutenant General Hubert R. Harmon. He guided the operation of the new academy during two of its three years at the interim site on Lowry Air Force Base, near Denver, Colo., and the move in August 1958 to the permanent home of the academy north of Colorado Springs Colo.

On Aug. 1, 1959, he assumed command of the Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, at which time he wee promoted to lieutenant general

The general is a member of Rotary International. General Briggs is a member of the Order of Daedalians, the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, vice chairman for the campaign committee of the Texas United Fund and a member of the board of directors for the Air Force Academy Foundation.

In addition to the Distinguished Service Medal, General Briggs' decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.